Fake red wine sold via mobile identified by Chinese media

Nine samples from various sources are tested, but only two of them contained no grapes

Two samples of red wine for sale on a mobile platform in China were found to have contained no pigment derived from plants, which meant they were devoid of grapes.

A food safety test, widely reported by most Hong Kong newspapers on Thursday, was performed by the Beijing Zhiyunda Consumer Experience Center, which was hired by Legal Evening News, on January 12.

The Beijing-based official newspaper said it bought two samples of red wine from supermarkets, five samples from online shops and two others from a mobile platform and sent them to the center for a speed test with sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda.

Among the nine samples, two from the mobile platform showed a negative result, revealing that they did not contain any anthocyanin or plant pigment.

Two of these samples do not contain any plant pigment. Photo: Legal Evening News

Zhang Yuping, a testing manager at Zhiyunda, was quoted as saying by the Legal Evening News that according to the country’s law, all grape wines produced locally should be entirely made of grapes or the makers have committed fraud. Zhang also said many local red wines contain extra sugar and are no good for one’s health.

Zhiyunda did not test whether the nine samples contained any additives or harmful substances this time.